Turkmenistan likely to cut trade costs by 15% via paperless trade - ESCAP (Exclusive)

[ad_1] BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 19. Full implementation of paperless commerce mechanisms may assist Turkmenistan and different Central Asian economies scale back commerce prices by 15%, Deputy Govt Secretary of the United Nations Financial and Social Fee for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Shombi Sharp, informed Pattern.

"Commerce digitalization and paperless techniques foster transparency, inclusiveness and sustainability. These instruments combine SPECA collaborating States extra deeply into the worldwide rules-based buying and selling system," Sharp mentioned.

He famous that Turkmenistan joined the Framework Settlement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Commerce in Asia and the Pacific in Could 2022, a UN treaty enabling digital change of trade-related information and paperwork via interoperable single window techniques.

"Our analysis reveals that full implementation of paperless commerce may assist Turkmenistan and different Central Asian economies scale back commerce prices by 15%. This effectivity ensures that commerce advantages attain each neighborhood," Sharp emphasised.

In keeping with Sharp, ESCAP has additionally assisted Turkmenistan in drafting a nationwide paperless commerce motion plan and facilitating participation in capacity-building occasions.

"Now we have additionally facilitated the nation’s participation in capacity-building actions such because the Paperless Commerce Week and the Asia-Pacific Commerce Facilitation Discussion board," he mentioned.

Sharp added that ESCAP offers ongoing institutional and technical assist via on-line studying and worldwide partnerships.

"ESCAP additionally offers many alternatives for on-line studying in this space, together with a brand new course on Single Window Interoperability developed with the World Financial institution, and common webinar collection on accelerating commerce digitalization, co-organized with the Asian Growth Financial institution, the Worldwide Chamber of Commerce and the World Customs Group," he famous.

In January 2026, a delegation headed by Shombi Sharp, Deputy Govt Secretary of UNESCAP, visited Turkmenistan as a part of the SPECA Financial Discussion board held on January 21-22 in Ashgabat. This occasion was a key part of SPECA Week, organized below the United Nations Particular Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).